Glass structure



Aug. 2, 193.2.; H. B. HAWES. .1,869,963

GLASS STRUCTURE y Filed Sept. 12,*1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 'l' Aug. .2,1 1932.- H; B. HAWES 1,869,963

GLASS STRUCTURE Filed sept. 12, 195o 2 sheets-sheet 2 ...wllE'In-J.. 6

(U H( il inve/1hr Patented Aug. 2, 1932 UNITI) STATES HAROLD B. HAWES, OF FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIG-NOR TO G. DROUVE COV.,y OF 'I PATENT OFFICE FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT, A. CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT GLASS STRUCTURE Application filed September 12, 1930. Serial No. 481,368.

My invention has reference to glass structures, but refers specifically to an improvement in the structure shown and described in Letters Patent No. 1,632,330, issued to me 5 June 14, 1927, and consists ot an improved way of assembling and securing what is termed in said patent the elongated gutter section 6.

'Ihe obj ect of this invention is to not only more readily assemble this section and the ratter bar, but also to render them easily detachable from the rest of the structure, and furthermore to eftectually prevent moisture from seeping down below said gutter section.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood I have illustrated in the drawings the genera-l structure shown and described in said Letters Patent, but will merely refer to certain parts by numerals of reference without entering into details regarding them, since their construction and function are the same as described in said patent.

Referring to the drawings- Figure 1 is a broken perspective view of a unit of a skylight structure embodyingthis invention- Figure 2 is a cross-section taken at any point intermediate the rafter bar clips with all parts assembled- Figure 3 is a cross-section with certain parts in position for assembly, and particularly showing the air circulating spaces between the ral-'ter bar and condensation gutter and between the latter and the glass rest, this section demonstrating particularly that, at all locations intermediate the rafter carrying clips, there is a free circulation of air Figure l is a cross-section similar to Figure 2, but illustrating ,a way of strengthening the rater bar instead of substituting a wider one- Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the elongated gutter equipped for ready attachment to the rafter bar- Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the ratter bar with spaced clips welded thereto and constructed to receive the rafter bar, and

Figure 7 is a section at the line 7-7 of Figure 2.

Similar numerals of kreference denote like parts in 'the several iigures of the drawings.

The drawings illustrate only a part of a skylight unit, but it must be understood that there are many of these units cachone of whichhas its rafter bar secured at spaced4 locations to certain clips, and the sectional structures shown in the drawings can be duplicated many times throughout the 'length' of a rafter bar.

1 is the ratter bar, and 2' are sheet metal clips which embrace said bar at spaced loca'- tions and are welded thereto, and the top portions 3 of these clips are flat and are spaced from the upper edge of said bar for' the purpose presently explained; c

In corresponding edges of these portions 3 are open gates 4f to facilitate the attachment of the elongated gutter 5 which is parallel to said bar, through which gutter fromthe bottom of its middle at spaced locations and preparatory to assembly extend screws or,A bolts 6 with nuts 7 driven thereon above and against the gutter. f "f f In assembling and securing this gutter, the nuts 7 are backed so as to permit the heads 8 of the bolts-6 to be spaced from the gutteras shown at Figure 5 a distance suiicientto4 allow the portions 3 to be entered beneath the gutter with the gates l embracing fthe bolts as shown at Figure 7 so that the gutter will be intermediate the nuts 7 andthe heads v 8 of the bolts, and the nuts are then tightened A so that the gutter will be firmly held vat spaced locations between these nuts and heads, thereby not only providing a simple and firm construction, but scalino' the gutter above'andl below as against moisture seeping.r

The glass support 9 with superimposed'` asphaltic cushion 10, and glass sections 11 9 with superimposed asphaltic cushion 12, are f all assembled as is shown insaid Letters-Patf ent, and the bolts 6 extend upwardly through f these parts and through a cap 14 that rests on the cushion 12, and hindi ng nuts l5 are driven 9 on the ends of these bolts `against said cap y to force the latter rmly against the cushion 12 and bind all parts securely together, likei Wise as shown in said patent.

The construction of rafter bars `shown at Figure 4.-, and denoted by the numeral 16 is T-shaped at its bottom edge to aiiford greater strength in the event that the length of the span and the weight to be supported thereby are greater than usual, and it will be clearly evident that, in instances ot' this sort, the present invention renders the substitution ot one kind of rafter for another already installed a comparatively simple matter.

It will be evident that there is a free circulation of air between the glass support 9 and gutters 5, between the rafter bars throughout the major portion of their lengths and glass support 9, and between the rafter bars and the gutters throughout their entire lengths owing to the spacing between the top portions of the clip 2 and said bars, and therefore the likelihood of any moisture condensingon said bars and outer faces of said gutters is` reduced to a minimum, and all other condensation will drip into the gutters and be disposed ofi-n the usual manner.

`Vhile it ispreferred to mount the glass sections as shown in the drawings, employin a separate glass support member, a iibrous Washer and agutter, it will be clear that the entire` superstructure is supported by the clips and rafter bar, and therefore any suitablexparts may be assembled on the ciips to hold the glass sections, so long as the gutters and clips are assembled and secured together inthe manner described and the bolts and nuts utilized to secure all parts iirmly together, and therefore the invention is not limitedinthese respects.

What is claimed is:

ll. vrIn a glass structure unit as described, having arafter bar, a series of sheet metal clips Welded to said bar at diiierent locations and having flat upper portions spaced from said bar and having open gates, an elongated utter restingupon and embracing said clips,

. lts ypassed through said clips and gutter andextending upwardly, nuts driven on said ,bolts--againstithe gutter whereby the latter is-securedfto the clips between the bolt heads andsaid nuts.

2. A unit for a glass structure as described, having a rafter bar, a series of sheet metal 4clips Welded to said bar at spaced locations and having level upperportions that are spaced from said bar andprovided with corresponding open gates, and an elongated guttersupported by and embracing said clips, gboltscarried by said gutter and adapted to enter` said gates, and nuts driven on said bolts `against said gutter whereby said rafter barand gutter are secured together as a separate unit.

.3. In a glass structure unit as described, having farafter'bar, a series of sheet metal clips welded to said bar at desired locations and having fiat upper faces spaced from said bar and formed with gates, an elongated Agutterparallel with said bar and embracing said clips, bolts passed through said gates and gutter and extending upwardly, a cap through which the free ends of said bolts eX- tend, nuts on said bolts above said gutter whereby the latter is secured to said clips, and glass sections and associated parts supported by said clips intermediate the latter and said cap, and nuts driven on the ends of the bolts against the caps.

4. Arunit for a giass structure as described, having a rafter bar.I a series of clips whose lower portions embrace said bar and are welded thereto at spaced locations and whose upper portions are flat and spaced from said bar and formed with corresponding open gates, an elongated gutter supported by said upper portions and embracing the clips, bolts exteiniiiig trom the inside of said upper portiens through said and gutter, and nuts driven on said bolts against said gutter, whereby the latter and said rater bar are detach ab] y secured together.

in testimony whereof I aiiix my signature hereto.

c HAROLD B. HAVES.

l 2 Si 

